INTRODUCTION
In the dynamic landscape of cannabis cultivation and appreciation, where enthusiasts and experts alike are ever in pursuit of understanding the many facets of this enigmatic plant, Jorge Cervantes and Dr. Gary Yates join forces to present an enlightening article titled "Scent Over Strength: Unraveling Cannabis' True Appeal."
Delving into the heart of the cannabis world, this article opens up a dimension that connects us to the very soul of cannabis — its aroma. In a world where THC content has long been the benchmark for assessing cannabis quality, this article brings to the fore a revolutionary study that places the enchanting aroma of cannabis flowers at the center stage.
A stalwart in the cannabis community, Jorge Cervantes embodies a commitment to empowering the next generation of cannabis growers, fostering a community of informed growers through a rich legacy of work, including the renowned "The Cannabis Encyclopedia" His advocacy for organic, sustainable, and responsible cultivation practices resonates deeply in this article, offering readers not just information, but a wealth of wisdom cultivated over years of passionate engagement with the cannabis plant.
Complementing Cervantes’ rich experience, Dr. Gary Yates brings to the table an academic brilliance rooted in Genetics and Plant Science, coupled with a dynamic engagement with the commercial landscape of the cannabis industry. As a distinguished member of the PharmaSeeds’ team, Dr. Yates envisions innovative approaches to enhance the health and prosperity of cannabis, grounded in a deep understanding of plant genetics. His academic background, featuring a BSc (Hons) in Molecular Genetics and a Ph.D. focused on plant stress, equips him with a nuanced understanding of the cannabis plant’s unique biological and medicinal properties.
You can download a copy of Jorge's eBook, We Grow Cannabis, co-authored by Dr Gary Yates, exclusively from Seedsman.com
A Whiff Of The Past
Let's take a step back and think about it. We've all been there, right? At a dispensary or with friends, discussing which strain to try next is common, and more often than not, THC potency becomes the selling point. But why? Previous studies have shown that we cannabis enthusiasts are willing to shell out more bucks for what we consider "higher-quality" products. But what does "high quality" really mean? Given the endless hybrids available, resulting in vast flavor, smell, and potency spectrums, ‘high quality’ is a subjective trait! How do we deal with that?
More Than Just THC
Here's the kicker. While THC has been the reigning champion, celebrated as the primary feature driving the cannabis market, this study begs to differ. It suggests that it's the aroma, the very scent of the cannabis flower, that truly mediates its subjective effects when smoked or vaporized. Mind-blowing, isn't it? Although I remember a time not so long ago, no one knew about THC levels, and everyone went by the smell and the puff! THC percentage was seen as the ultimate decider when it first came around, but those who know, know! It’s not the whole story, and a new study sheds some light on why it is not the full story.
The Study That Changed The Game
In a unique twist, this study, authored by Jeremy Plumb, working out of the Adrianne R. Wilson-Poe lab, and including co-author and cannabis legend Ethan Russo', analyzed cannabis competitions. Now, imagine this: commercially available cannabis flowers given to healthy volunteers (our brave "judges") in a randomized, double-blind fashion. Then, feedback on the subjective effects of each cannabis sample was collected and analyzed. And guess what stood out? Not the THC content but the pleasant and appealing aroma of the flower. This has a significant implication on the market and how it currently ‘ranks’ dried flower, usually on a tiered system with high THC being more expensive and near the ‘top’, and as the price drops, so does the THC level. But how can we convert that to a smell rank? This cannot be done simply by the producer or reseller saying, - ‘smells good to me….top dollar’ as smell and smell preference is more subjective, making it harder to accentuate.
The Study Focuses On:
- The relationship between aroma and the subjective effects of smoked and vaporized cannabis flowers
- Previous studies have shown that cannabis consumers are willing to pay more for higher-quality products.
- A common misconception is that THC potency is the primary determinant of cannabis product quality.
- An exploration into the factors that contribute to the appealing subjective effects of cannabis.
- A mention of a study involving cannabis competitions and analyzing the subjective effects of various cannabis samples.
The study showed that consuming cannabis with high levels of THC, both potency and dose, did not increase the users perception of quailty. The graphs below clearly show no change in 'appeal score' (quality score) over higher levels of THC.
When continuing the analysis of the data the Aurora team did find a positive correlation with cannabis that scored high on the aroma score, with those ranking high on the quality score. The graph below highlights this with the left to right upward gradient on the first graph. The second graph show practically no change in gradient, i.e. no correlation between terpene expression and 'appeal score'.
Another interesting find in the study was the one which showed no correlation between the negative effects associated with consuming high THC, which they listed as dry eyes, dry mouth, or increased appetite, to the level of overall level of THC consumed. In other words, consuming higher levels of THC doesn't increase cotton mouth, dry-eye or munchies! Again, like quality and aroma, the perception of hunger, dry eyes and cotton mouth are also somewhat subjective, nonetheless the results may help 'rescue' THC from the long standing accusations of turning users into something more akin to a background extra from Night Of The Living Dead!
The results from this study clearly show how consumers in this instance were more concerned with smells and flavors than THC levels. Although it is innovative in its research design, i.e. use cannabis cup data, the points made would also benefit from a more a robust backing up from other sources. The authors themselves mention there had to be somewhat of a selection bias in the data selected for presentation, and this may not represent the larger cannabis-consuming masses. They also cite that carryover effects from consuming different varieties back-to-back may have skewed the results.
Although somehow, in the mass psyche, the message that THC levels are the determining factor still holds true!
A New Perspective
Interestingly, the two things accounted for in medical and recreational descriptions are cannabinoids (THC and CBD, usually) and terpene profiles. However, there are a host of other phytochemicals that make up the composition of the aroma. This study highlights that neither terpenes nor THC level played a factor in perceived quality, and instead, esters, sterols and ketones, plus some other aromatic compounds may be the lead in the perception of high quality.
The study goes on to suggest that low or medium levels of THC with lovely aroma profiles should be the go-to choice for casual users (once or twice a week) - quoted after the harm reduction angle - This seems somewhat of a stretch, but okay!
So, next time you choose a strain or share knowledge with a fellow grower, remember to appreciate the symphony of scents a cannabis flower offers. It might just be the secret ingredient to that perfect cannabis experience.
Stay enlightened, and keep growing those aromatic beauties!
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